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So, tell me about your weapon preferences! After completing the game with a few characters, I’ve developed some significant weapon biases. Some weapons, I just don’t use. Others, I build fighting techniques around. Here’s a peek at my basic philosophy. I’d like to read your own ideas, and what’s worked for you.

1. Pistols: I tried the revolvers, and although they’re powerful, their slow rate of fire prompts me to sell them off. Some of the enemies we face move around a bit, and if I miss with that critical head-shot, then I must wait until the next bullet chambers. Revolvers have their place, against thugs, floaters, etc, but I’d rather not carry two pistols. I prefer general purpose weaponry. With the semi-auto pistols, I can use one or two rounds to stun lock the target, following up with a single “night-cap” to the brain pan. Also, if charged by a mob of lunatics, a semi auto can buy some valuable escape time. Slowing a mob doesn’t require much accuracy – just plant several rounds into a group, 1-2 per pursuer, then run like hell. Works like a charm. As a matter of principle, I shoot toward the head when rapid firing, and if I get a lucky kill, then that’s just a big fat bonus.

2. Rifles: I prefer the single shot rifles, where one click sends a single round down range. The faster I click, the faster I shoot. The auto guns waste bullets, and I’m not impressed with their accuracy. Auto guns are useful for two things: Crowd control, and unloading into the backs of rams. Again, versatility and conservation for the win. I’ll stick with the single shot rifles.

* They’re cheap. After acquiring the recipe, they require only two alcohol to produce. Booze is easy to find.

* They provide area denial. Throw one in the path of your enemies, and they’ll take damage coming to you. They’re good for covering a hasty retreat.

* Accuracy is not necessary. Sure, I’ve set myself on fire with the things, as throwing over/around/through obstacles is still a bit wonky, but they work quire well in the general area of the target.

* Human enemies like to use cover, and cocktails deal with that problem handily.

Other explosives:

Deo-bombs are great – they make stinky zombies smell better too! Despite doing tons of damage, one must be precise when throwing them. Also, I don’t know if this is actually happening, but I think human opponents try to move out of the blast radius when they see one. I could be wrong. The delay before explosion annoys me.

Incendiary grenades: They’re great, much better than Molotov cocktails, but at five bleach, they’re expensive. Too bad we can’t find a recipe for those.

Bleed Bombs: An inferior variant of the Molotov, doing bleed damage, but without the benefit of area denial. One pop, and they’re gone. They require precise placement, and only do 300 damage if I recall correctly.

4. Sharp Weapons: The Japanese swords are great. Their ease of handling, and high damage, are only marginally offset by their low durability.

Unfortunately, we don’t see too many of them. What then, must we do? We resort to machetes, that’s what we do. Machetes provide decent handling, and better durability than the swords. We see machetes all over the place.

6. Sharp Mods: I consider two elements, availability of the components, and special effects. I see two workhorse mods in Dead Island – Short Circuit, and Old Smokey. I keep turning to these mods again and again. One produces electrical damage, and the other fire.

I prefer electrical damage over fire, because dancing zombies make me laugh – I always stop and watch. In one respect, however, fire damage may be preferable over electrical; Flame damaged zombies look quite different from a distance – you know if they’re damaged or fresh. That’s helpful information. The other mods in the game, while more damaging than short circuit and old smoky, require rather exotic element (stingray tail, anyone?). While putting Deathstalker mods on every sharp weapon I find would be cool, finding the ingredients is problematic. The stingray tail retails for $2,000 at the vendors. OUCH!

7. Blunt mods: I’m open to suggestions about this topic – I typically stick with the mods that produce higher end results, ignoring some of the lesser variants. How about some suggestions?

9. Developer mods: I’ve only crafted two: The hand of Glova, and the Homerun bat. I immediately disposed of the Glova mod, as I find its stamina depletion prohibitive. It’s like asking to get knocked down.

The homerun bat is a winner, and quite useful in Moresby, the sewers, and the prison. In tight quarters, it can blast a hole through the opposition. Personally, I recommend carrying TWO in some areas. They’re very handy, but quite fragile.

In summary, I prefer using the most easily found weapons, in a general purpose fashion, upgraded only with the most easily found elements.

My list starts counterclockwise from the bottom right slot of my weapon wheel.

1. Random weapon that can be thrown or used for CQC. I don't care if it deteriorates or if I lose it.
2. The same as number one.
3. Pride Pistol
4. The same as numbers one and two.
5. The best modded sharp weapon I own.
6. The same as number five.
7. Some type of explosive just in case.

The only other thing I will carry is a stack of Medikits.

All my life I have lived with your used things.
Now something I have used is yours forever!

And I have a Shock Single Shot Rife, Deo-Bomb, 3 Grenades, Alcohol, and a Medium Medkit in my other slots. I prefer to use the Kanabo, Zeds, and Military Knife in my normal combat with Walkers, Infected, Thugs, and Floaters. I use the Deathstalker for butchers, one of the guns for Rams, and Gabriel's sledgehammer for large groups, or just to watch zombies fly a million miles away .

And I have a Shock Single Shot Rife, Deo-Bomb, 3 Grenades, Alcohol, and a Medium Medkit in my other slots. I prefer to use the Kanabo, Zeds, and Military Knife in my normal combat with Walkers, Infected, Thugs, and Floaters. I use the Deathstalker for butchers, one of the guns for Rams, and Gabriel's sledgehammer for large groups, or just to watch zombies fly a million miles away .

That blue wakizashi, I don't know for you, but mine is better than Zed's in every category Is it the same for you?